Journal-bearing.



Patented sepa 21, 1909.

UNITEU STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED LATULIP, OF SYBACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 DONALD F. MCLENNAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

J OURNAL-BEARIN G.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

Application filed February 18, 1909. Serial N o. 478,543.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LATULIP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bearings, designed for use in connection with all kinds of journals, as shafts, axles and spindles, and has for its object to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive bearing, which is composed of a material that is a non-conductor of heat, and practically frictionless.

The invention consists principally of a one-part metallic bearing box in the form of a sleeve or tube, which is provided with lateral flanges for suitably attaching the same to the supports of journal boxes.

The invention further consists of a bushing of mica, which is fitted into the sleeve and forms the direct bearing for a shaft or journal, the said bushing preferably composed of a number of thin strips or layers of mica, of equal length andrwidth, closely and evenly arranged in radial order. The mica strips being assembled in the form of a tube, and the laminae compressed until the wall of the bushing or tube becomes a solid composite mass, which is inserted in the sleeve-box under a strong pressure, in such manner as to remain in working position and withstand the strain and wear of a bearing without any other securing means, and without requiring renewing or repair ing except after long periods of use.

Other features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detail description which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciiication, and in which- Figure l is a side view of the sleeve or shell, which forms the external part of my journal bearing. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, showing the manner of applying the mica bushing which forms the direct bearing for a shaft or journal. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner ofassembling the mica strips preparatory to compressing and applying the same to the tubular box. Fig. 4; is an enlarged view of a number of mica strips, showing in exaggerated form the manner of upsetting or flaring the outer edges of the strips to facilitate forming the same into a tube; also showing the' spaces between the layers which may be filled with a lubricant. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shaft, to which are applied a number of the sleeve bearings. Fig. 6 is a side elevation and part section, showing the manner in which the mica bushing is compressed and applied to the tubular casing.

Similar characters of reference are assigned to corresponding parts throughout the several views. n,

In the drawing, 2 represents a one-part sleeve or tubular bearing case or box, which is provided with opposite lateral flanges 3, by means of which the case may be attached to a pillow-block or other member of a bearing support. The sleeve or case 2 may be made of any suitable kind of metal, by casting, drawing or otherwise, to form an integral tube-like part, as shown. The flanges 3 may be dispensed with and any suitable method of supporting the bearing may be employed instead.

l represents a bushing of mica which is disposed in the case or sleeve 2 and preferably arranged truly concentric to the case. This bushing is composed of a large number of strips or layers of sheet mica, either natural or what is called micalene, all of the strips are preferably cut to uniform length and width but may vary in thickness. After the strips of mica are cut to uniform size, they are assembled, .by means of cylindrical core or form (not shown) into a simple tube-like part, having a diameter considerably greater than the bore of the sleeve 2, as shown in Fig. 3. In this stage of the manufacture, the layers or strips of mica are merely aggregated by hand and are rather loosely disposed around the core. When a sufficient number of the strips are thus arranged for a certain sized bearing, the imperfect and unfinished bushing is removed from the core, and subjected to a pressure which contracts the shell sufficiently to be inserted into the sleeve-like boX or case 2. A heavy pressure-isemployed for rthis latter operation, which crowds the micasheets still more closely together as it drives thel shell.4 into the sleeve. After ythe mica is thus forced into4 the sleeve, itis practically im movable. That is to say, it will retain its position and form perfectly and cannot be displaced eXcept by the application of a strong pressure. By this method rof lconstructing and applying the mica bushing, this part becomes the Ydirect bearing for a shaft or journal,no part of the metal of the sleeve or boX coming in contact with the shaft.

In Fig. 4 is shown, in exaggerated form, the mannervof preparing themica strips, before they are assembled intothe large' loosely constructed tube,villustrated inFig. 3. To prepare the mica strips, asshown, the edges 5, which'later vform the outer circumference of the bushing, are scrapedby some dull'in.- strument, which chafes and flares the edges, and gives them an upset form. When the strips are thus treated the outer edges 5 appear to be thicker than the body and opposite edges of the strips, and when a number of strips are placed'side byI side they may be readily assembled into a circular part or tube, each layer disposedin a radial plane, as shown in the drawing. The'flaring of the outer edges ofthe strips .also provides a series of narrow openings or cavities 6, eX- tending longitudinally between the adjacent strips. rlhese cavities are quite noticeable at the time of assembling, and just before entering upon the latter operation, the operator takes several of the strips and after adjusting them, as shown in 'Fig'. 4,-dips them into a lubricant such as melted tallow or other oil, which fills the cavities 6. He then places the strips in the form, and repeats this operation until he -has builtup the large loosely formed bushing shown in Fig. 3. lVhen he has completed the assembling of the part 4, to prevent collapse of the same he places a suitable clamp (not shown) Varound the mica shell, which is then ready for insertion in the sleeve 2. The neXtstep consists of taking a sleeve, and a funnel-shaped guide or receiver 7, specially arranged `for the work, which is secured to one end of the sleeve by means of a clamp 9 (see Fig. 6), a shoulder 10 at the smaller end of the funnel or guide abutting against the end of the sleeve. The clamp consists of the band 9, having lateral liange-lugs 11, which are perforated to receive a bolt 12, to which is applied a nut 13, the arrangement of the fun nel being such that the bore at the small end coincides eXactly-withthebore.of the sleeve. After the funn'elis applied to the sleeve, `the loosely formedmica-bushing4 is .placed into the large end of the funnel, and a strong pressure thenapplied to its outer end for forcing the bushing through the funnel and into the sleeve. The pressure thus employed owing to the gradual contraction of the funnel, siervesjto compress and contract the inner end of the mica tube, and in this manner forces the strips or layers tightly against each other until the whole bushing becomes one solid mass. into the sleeve under compression serves to close up the cavities between the several layers and forces the lubricant in every direction until the whole massof mica is saturated. In this manner a` considerable quantity of the oil or tallow remainsconfined in the walls ofthe bushing 4 and tends to render the same ,self lubricatingfor .an indefinite period.

In Fig..5 is illustrated themannerof applying my improved bearingtoashaft. EIn this vieware shown threeof the bearings mounted upon pillow blocks 14 and secured in place by screws or bolts 115, andthe shaft 16 vis inserted through the several bearings. In this connection it .may be Well to lstate, that my bearings are preferably intended to be applied to shafts withoutvrequiring any Vspecially lformed journals, the bore vin the mica bushing being-preferablythe-.same as thediameter of the shaft.

VMyimproved journal bearing is extremely simple in construction, and when properly made and applied is capable of a long wearing life. The mica is a non-conductor of heat, andvistherefore incapable of becoming heatedvto the point of fusing, and the layers of the mica being arranged atrightangles to thedirection of motion of a journal and tightly compressed and saturated throughout with a lubricant renders the bearing practically frictionless ,and indestructible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- A1. A journal bearing, consisting of-mul tiple sheets ofmica formed into -a composite sleeve, the corresponding'edges ofsaid. sheets being upset to form aseries of cavitiesbetween the sheets,.and a tube-like metalcasing inclosingand rigidly holding said sleeve.

`2. A journal bearing, comprising a onepart sleeve-box,.a mica bushing tightly fitted into the sleeve-box, the said bushing consisting of a series of thin stripsfof sheet -mica of equal length and width, the outer edge of each strip being upset or flared laterally Ato correspond to the greater length of the outer circumference as compared with the vinner circumference of said bushing.

3. The combination of -a sleeve-like metallic casing in one part, anda journal bearing comprising a tubular mica part tightly The insertion of themica tting said casing, and having a concentric as compared With the inner circumference bore to receive the journal of a shaft, the of said tubular part. y) said bearing composed of multiple layers In testimony whereof I ax my signature of sheet mica disposed radially in said casin presence of two Witnesses.

ing and each closely contacting the adjacent FRED LATULIP. layer, the outer edge of each layer of mica Witnesses: being'upset or flared to compensate for the HARRY DE WALLACE,

increased length of the outer circumference L FRANK F. BREWER. 

